Method and apparatus for assembling contact shield and strain relief to a cable

Abstract

An assembly is provided for loading a contact shield and a strain relief onto a dielectric member on an end of a cable having a center conductor surrounded by insulation. The assembly includes a strip guide for conveying a contact shield along a carrier path to a loading station. The contact shield is joined to a carrier strip. A holder is provided at the loading station to hold the dielectric member on the end of the cable. A slider moves the holder to and from the loading station along a cable loading path. A shear assembly is also provided at the seating station to remove the contact shield and strain relief from the carrier strip and seat the contact shield and strain relief along a seating path with the dielectric member. Optionally, the shearing assembly may include first and second shears for separately removing a strain relief and the contact shield, respectively, from the carrier strip. The first and second shears may be staged different first and second distances from the holder to successively engage the holder in a staggered manner. Optionally, the strip guide and slider may be mounted adjacent to one another to a base plate with the slider being movable relative to the base plate along the cable loading path and the strip guide being movable relative to the base plate along the loading path.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for assembling connectors to a cable and more specifically, a machine for semi-automatic assembly of contact shields and connector strain reliefs to cables.[0002]Cable assemblies convey data or power signals between systems and components through numerous types of connectors that are attached to opposite ends of the cable. The cables are constructed in a variety of sizes and lengths, as well as in a variety of wire configurations (e.g., coaxial, twisted pair, single conductor, and the like). The cables are terminated at opposite ends by connectors that also are constructed in a variety of shapes and sizes depending in part on the size, length and configuration of the cable.[0003]Many connectors include at least one contact joined to a conductor within the cable with the contact surrounded by a shield. The shield is separated from the contact by a dielectric member that holds the contac...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes an assembly and method for loading contact shields and strain relief onto the end of a cable with a center conductor surrounded by insulation. The assembly includes a strip guide for conveying the contact shield and strain relief along a carrier path to a loading station. A holder is provided at the loading station for holding a dielectric member on the end of the cable. A shear assembly is also provided to remove the contact shield and strain relief from the carrier strip and seat them along a seating path with the dielectric member. The technical effect of this invention is to simplify the process of loading contact shields and strain relief onto cables, making it easier and more efficient for assembly line workers.

Problems solved by technology

Heretofore, a labor intensive assembly process was required in particular for connectors that include shielding separated from the contacts by a dielectric member.

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